The Swiss Franc Forum

Euromoney was delighted to host the second instalment of the Swiss Franc Forum on Tuesday 12 March. Over 270 delegates were presented with a series of insightful panel discussions and sponsor-led workshops on different products, asset classes, issuance and investment trends in the CHF markets.

Robert Savage of FX Concepts opened the conference with a factual account of currency trends over the coming year, highlighting both the complexity of currency devaluation in today's economic environment, and the strong attractiveness of the CHF as a funding currency. Speakers on the opening panel were at odds to reach a consensus on the real issues that Switzerland should be focusing on as a small nation of savers with a resilient corporate sector and disproportionate banking sector. After a series of technical workshops from our lead sponsors, both domestic and foreign issuers took to the stage to share their funding experiences over the past year. The success of new structures such as hybrids remained a key theme throughout with investors looking to diversify and issuers looking to strengthen the balance sheet. Foreign issuers discussed their strategies for the year ahead, highlighting how tapping into the CHF market has been an advantageous move for them. The conference came to a close with an open debate on the swiss banks' relationship with the regulators, the effects of national ringfencing on the swiss banking sector, their funding activities and ended with a frank discussion on the ten year forecast for the size of the swiss banking sector relative to GDP.

Euromoney would like to thank all sponsors, speakers and delegates for making this conference such a success once again. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2014.

"The Euromoney Swiss Franc Forum was a unique, timely and very worthwhile event. It brought together all the main participants at a time when the market's reputation and capabilities are growing rapidly... looking forward to next year."Brian Olvany,Zurich Financial Services

"Euromoney’s inaugural Swiss Franc Forum 2011 was a great and unique opportunity to network with a large number of Swiss issuers, investors and intermediaries. A very well organized, informative and comprehensive conference."Markus Unternaehrer, Holcim

"Euromoney's inaugural Swiss Franc Forum 2011 was doubtless a high quality event with very interesting and topical themes brought forward and discussed by high profile speakers and panelists from the industry, and a professional audience. Not to mention the excellent opportunity to conduct networking which the conference offered."Rainer Skierka, Bank Sarasin & Co.

"Euromoney's inaugural Swiss Franc Forum 2011 brought together more than 350 specialists to focus exclusively on current trends as well as future challenges and opportunities of the Swiss Franc capital market. It offered the unique opportunity to network effectively and to meet clients and competitors at the same time - hopefully to be continued in the near future."Ursula Oser, Zürcher Kantonalbank